Sober facility can house up to eight men

Clean and sober. That’s the aim of the Freedom House that opened in Kalispell April 15.

Operators of the home, located at 1128 Third Ave. West, subsequently applied for a conditional use permit on June 18.

Former Freedom House President Randy Marr, a retired Lakeside attorney, apparently didn’t believe the group needed to apply for the permit and cited the federal Fair Housing Act.

Kalispell City Planner Tom Jentz informed the organization otherwise, but acknowledged that the city has to approve the conditional-use permit application. The matter is set for council approval on Monday, Aug. 2.

Freedom House, which has met opposition from some neighbors, is not a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility, but simply a “clean and sober house” that houses up to eight men in one unit of a duplex.

“Men do need a safe place to live,” said Rod Nash, who took over last week after Marr resigned.

“I know what I used to be,” said Nash, who described himself as a recovered drug addict and alcoholic. “God just totally transformed my life. The whole concept [of Freedom House] is surrendering to God. God can do for us what we can’t do for ourselves,” he said.

Up to eight men will live in the home at any given time, despite the city’s restriction that no more than four unrelated people can live in such an abode. The group home is protected under the Fair Housing Act, Jentz said.

Tenants at Freedom House can only be admitted if they have been sober for at least 72 hours.

The men are expected to be employed, full-time students or have medical releases and be out of the house between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The house requires a 90-day commitment from each resident and charges $275 a month including utilities.

Bill Hawk lives at the home and serves as a volunteer manager, Nash said.

Sharing rooms is necessary so each roommate can have someone to talk to and monitor any behavior that might be an indication toward relapse, according to Freedom House documents.

Shared activities aid in the recovery process. Additionally, selfishness and self-centeredness are root problems of addicted people. Participation in house activities require resident interaction and contribute to their recovery.

The Freedom House is looking for people to serve on its board after Marr and another board member recently resigned. Joi Gratny serves as the organization’s treasurer.

Those interested can contact Nash at 257-3223 or go online at http://freedomhouseofkalispell.org/freedomhouseofkalispell for more information.

The home is hosting an open house for neighbors from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.

Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.